Emerging technology that makes chocolate without cocoa beans is causing concern in Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world’s two largest cocoa producers. Growers and exporters fear that wider adoption could weaken long-term demand for conventional cocoa beans.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly $2.8 billion in the first seven months of 2026, up 13.5% year on year. China provided much of the growth, while tariffs, competition and high input costs continued to pressure exporters in other markets.
Brazil’s health regulator has clarified that licensed pharmacies may use digital marketplaces for logistics and consumer delivery, but platforms cannot sell medicines independently. The model still requires specific Anvisa regulation covering dispensing, product integrity and traceability.
Romania’s paper and board producers are losing ground as energy absorbs up to 35% of production costs and imported packaging paper intensifies price competition. More than €200 million invested in the past two to three years has not prevented domestic corrugated-paper output from falling by over 6% in the first half of 2026.
Vietnam’s draft petroleum decree would give suppliers more pricing freedom while imposing stricter infrastructure and experience requirements on wholesalers. KBSV Research expects the changes to accelerate consolidation and benefit Petrolimex and PVOIL, which together held about 67% of the market in 2025.
Greece’s 2026 wine harvest is beginning amid weak demand for quality bottled wine and severe frost losses in Nemea and Mantineia. Scarcity may lift prices for Moschofilero and Santorini Assyrtiko, while wineries retain leverage in regions with normal crops.
Colombia imported 28,160 tonnes of milk powder from the United States, Chile and Bolivia between January and May 2026. Fedegán says the volume equalled about 234 million litres of liquid milk and is pressing the government to review trade conditions and rules of origin.
Al Safa Foods has expanded annual broiler capacity to about 60 million birds, with slaughter capacity reaching 200,000 birds a day. The integrated operation is intended to supply more of Oman’s poultry demand and support future sales to Gulf markets.
Thailand is developing a demand-driven model to turn domestic agricultural materials and university research into higher-value functional ingredients. The initiative focuses on six health-claim categories and closer coordination among researchers, producers and markets.
Threatened US economic measures against Iran could raise the risks for Chinese automakers and parts suppliers while leaving Tehran with fewer alternatives. Asb-e Bokhar expects China to maintain selective engagement, potentially increasing Iran’s dependence on smaller Chinese brands and intermediaries.
Three of the world’s four major refining centers are facing difficulties, raising concern about global fuel availability. The available source does not identify the affected centers or provide capacity, outage, price or trade-flow data, limiting any assessment of the potential shortage.
Romania restarted coal-fired units at Rovinari and Paroșeni after exceptionally low Danube levels left both Cernavodă nuclear reactors unavailable. The government declared an energy alert for August as gas, renewable generation and demand reductions were mobilized to cover the shortfall.
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